Is Chandigarh a perfectly planned city? - Vikramāditya Prakāsh

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: SF Huang

In 1947, India achieved independence from British rule—

1947 年，印度獨立， 脫離英國統治——

but this freedom came at a tremendous cost.

但得到這自由的代價相當大。

The region had been split in two, displacing over 10 million residents

該地區被一分為二，

超過一千萬人流離失所，

and leading to riots that saw the deaths of roughly 1 million people.

導致暴動，造成約一百萬人死亡。

Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister,

印度的第一任總理 賈瓦哈拉爾‧尼赫魯

was eager to usher his country towards a brighter, united future.

急切地想為他的國家開創 更光明、團結的未來。

And one of the projects that would prove most essential to realizing this vision

事實證明，要實現這個遠景， 最重要的專案之一

was the construction of Chandigarh:

就是建設昌迪加爾：

a modern metropolis designed to symbolize “the nation’s faith in the future.”

它是個現代的大都市，設計目的 是要象徵「國家對未來的信念」。

But the path to Nehru’s futurist city was far from simple.

但通往尼赫魯這個 未來主義城市的路一點也不簡單。

Since money was tight for the burgeoning nation,

因為這個快速發展的 新興國家預算很吃緊，

the project was only able to secure a budget of 175 million rupees.

這項專案能取得的預算只有 一億七千五百萬盧比。

That’s the modern equivalent of roughly 500 million US dollars—

大約等同於現在的五億美金——

which is barely enough to build a pair of skyscrapers today.

在現今，這數目只能勉強 建造兩棟摩天大樓。

The project also had low public support

公眾也不太支持此專案，

because the plans required the further displacement of local villages.

因為這些計畫會需要 進一步遷走當地的村民。

The government compensated protesting residents with funds to buy new homes.

政府補償抗議居民的購置新屋資金。

But their agricultural lands would still be overtaken by the new city.

但他們的農業用地 仍然會被新城市接收。

Nehru’s plan for unity was off to a rocky start.

尼赫鲁的團結計畫 打從一開始就很艱辛。

But the city’s plans were as inspiring as they were innovative.

但該城市的計畫 既具啟發性又很創新。

In 1949, Nehru commissioned American architect Albert Mayer,

1949 年，尼赫鲁委託 美國建築師亞伯‧梅亞，

whose initial designs laid out green spaces, sectioned neighborhoods,

他最初的設計規劃了 綠色空間、分區的社區、

and organized traffic systems.

以及有組織的交通系統。

When Mayer left the project due to his business partner’s death,

當梅亞因為生意夥伴過世 而離開此專案後，

his plans were taken even further by renowned French architect Le Corbusier.

知名法國建築柯比意把他的 計畫帶入了另一個層次，

Known as one of the fathers of modern architecture,

柯比意是現代建築之父之一，

Le Corbusier prioritized functional designs devoid of ornamentation.

他優先考量沒有裝飾的功能性設計。

His style championed unornamented concrete for creating efficient structures

他的風格是提倡以未裝飾的 混凝土來打造高效的結構，

that prioritized function over decoration.

重視功能勝於裝飾。

Building on Mayer’s plans,

以梅亞的計畫為基礎，

Le Corbusier introduced the metaphor of a human body

柯比意引入了人體的隱喻，

to describe and design Chandigarh’s urban environment.

來描述和設計昌迪加爾的都市環境。

The head of the city would comprise the main administrative area.

城市的頭部是主要的行政區域。

Alongside the State Secretariat, Parliamentary Assembly and High Court,

除了有國務秘書處、

議會大廈和高等法院外，

the complex included symbolic structures like the Martyr’s Memorial,

此中心區域還有象徵性的建物，

如烈士紀念碑，

dedicated to those who perished fighting for Indian independence.

紀念那些為印度獨立而犧牲奉獻的人。

From the head, residents could travel down the city’s circulatory system:

從頭部，居民可以沿著 城市的循環系統向下移動：

a network of roads and pathways known as the 7Vs.

這個系統是由道路和小徑 組成的網路，稱為七個Ｖ。

These hierarchical roads connected Chandigarh to other cities

這些有階層的道路連結 昌迪加爾和其他城市，

while seamlessly linking the sectors within

同時也無縫連接了內部的區域，

for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.

供駕駛人、自行車騎士與行人使用。

Chandigarh’s heart was Sector 17— a commercial district housing large shops,

第十七區是昌迪加爾的心臟——

該區是商業區，內有大型商店、

offices, a parade ground, and the main interstate bus terminal.

辦公室、閱兵場以及 主要的州際巴士總站。

And the city’s lungs took the form of a continuous Leisure Valley.

而城市的肺部則以 連續的休閒谷地形式來呈現。

This series of green belts was modeled after the popular garden city concept,

這一系列的綠色地帶是以 流行的花園城市概念為藍本，

which sought to increase green cover

旨在增加綠色覆蓋率，

and guarantee all residents access to fresh air and open space.

並確保所有居民都能有 新鮮的空氣和開放的空間。

Taken as a whole, these plans were unprecedented, daring, and expensive.

總體來說，這些計畫是前所未見的、

大膽且昂貴的。

Fortunately, Le Corbusier’s streamlined modernist aesthetic helped keep costs low.

幸運的是，柯比意的 精簡現代主義美學

有助於降低成本。

Most structures were built of brick, which was left unpainted and unplastered.

大部分建築物都是用磗頭建造， 沒有上漆也沒有塗灰泥。

Even the city’s grandest concrete buildings remain naked to this day.

就連該城市最宏偉的混凝土 建築物至今也維持裸狀。

And since the budget couldn’t accommodate mechanical heating and cooling systems,

因預算無法負擔機械式的冷暖系統，

Chandigarh was designed with passive cooling and ventilation

昌迪加爾的設計， 是每棟建築物中都內建

built into every structure.

被動的冷卻和通風系統。

Other tropical cities employed similar techniques on a smaller scale,

其他熱帶城市也採用類似的 技術，只是規模較小，

but in Chandigarh every room had direct access

但在昌迪加爾，每間房間都可以直接

to adequate sunlight and ventilation.

獲得充足的陽光和通風。

Overhangs provided shade during the summer and let in heat during the winter.

懸挑設計在夏季能提供遮陽 功能，在冬季則能讓熱能進入。

And today, the energy efficiency of Chandigarh’s many brick buildings

現今，在昌迪加爾 許多磗造建築的能源效益，

has made the city famous for its eco-friendly design.

讓該城市以環保設計聞名。

Of course, neither Chandigarh’s past nor present is perfect.

當然，昌迪加爾的過去 和現在都不完美。

The hierarchy of housing types resulted in segregation

住房類型的階級差異，

讓富裕的大型家庭 和小型密集的居住區

between affluent, large households and small, denser plots.

被分隔開來。

And the city’s focus on residential and government buildings

且該城市著重住宅和政府建築物，

prevented the development of other industries.

阻礙了其他產業的發展。

But many other elements of Mayer and Le Corbusier’s plans have aged quite well.

但梅亞和柯比意的計畫中，許多 其他元素卻依然保持著良好的狀態。

Thousands of trees and open spaces make it one of India’s greenest cities.

成千上萬的樹木和開放空間， 讓它成為印度最綠化的城市之一。

And its high quality of life continues to make Chandigarh

且高品質的生活，讓昌迪加爾一直

one of the most desirable cities to live in the nation.

都是全國最讓人想居住的城市之一。

Over 60 years after its construction,

建造完成至今已六十多年，

Chandigarh remains an international exemplar of urban design.

昌迪加爾仍然是 都市設計的國際典範。